Key facts
- Australia is doubling the maximum penalty for social media platforms breaching its minimum age law to $99 million.
- The eSafety Commissioner will gain enhanced powers to compel companies to provide evidence of compliance.
- More than 5 million accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted since the ban was introduced.
- Research indicates a significant percentage of under-16s are still accessing social media.
- Experts are calling for stronger enforcement and regulation of social media algorithms.
Australia is doubling the maximum penalty for social media platforms that breach its minimum age law to $99 million, as concerns grow over tech giants' insufficient efforts to protect children. The updated legislation will also grant the eSafety Commissioner enhanced powers to compel companies to demonstrate their compliance with the ban, which prevents children under 16 from accessing social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that too many children are still accessing social media and the ban is too easy to avoid. Investigations have been launched into platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Research suggests that a significant percentage of under-16s who had accounts before the ban still have some access.
Experts have warned that the government needs to adopt an "enforcement mode" and take on tech giants to ensure the ban's effectiveness. Concerns have been raised about the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and the regulation of social media algorithms, rather than solely focusing on age restrictions. Some critics have labeled the increased penalties as an "admission of failure" by the government.